$42.9 million. That’s how much was awarded to the City of Lakeland in partnership with Bonnet Springs Park Friday.

The funding is part of $150 million granted to Florida communities, linked to the governor’s “Rebuild Florida Mitigation Infrastructure Program” to help improve the state’s current infrastructure — particularly during hurricane season.

Lakeland’s Bonnet Springs Park is getting what was referred to as the “big enchilada” through the multifaceted partnership in an effort to correct the Lake Bonnet drainage basin’s current flood hazards. The City of Lakeland applied for the funding which will be implemented by the Public Works Department’s Lakes + Stormwater division.

The project should reach completion over a 10-year period and will commence within the next several months. According to the City, the overall plan is as follows:

Offset local flood hazards + damages as well as actively improving watershed resilience via local stormwater infrastructure.
Increase the storage capacity for stormwater through both treatment and retention basins within Lake Bonnet.
Restore Lake Bonnet’s surface water through a “harvesting technology” to remove algae forming nutrients that harm surface water.